While We’re Waiting… Baseball’s Age Problem, Tight End Depth and Winning the Hickson Trade

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com

“A lot of people may fault Carmona, but he is a product of a bad system. Major League Baseball is doing their best to police the problems with age and name falsification and the rampant use of steroids. On top of that players are often bribed by buscones (street agents) where they are promised food, shelter, training, and help with getting a signing bonus in exchange for a pre-arranged sum of money. There is only so much the league can do to control it.

Carmona is just another example of a system out of control. He is not the only one either as several players have been caught recently – such as Miami Marlins pitcher Leo Nunez a few months ago – and more will be caught in the future as there are probably several players in the big leagues and minor leagues currently playing with false identities.” [Tony/Indians Prospect Insider]

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Fred Greetham looks at the TE position going into next year- “The tight ends combined for 91 receptions and seven touchdowns as a group. Watson’s concussion problems are not a good sign and hopefully, he will be cleared and is able to return to his 2010 form. Moore needs to become a better blocker in the off-season. He definitely creates mismatches and can be a play maker, especially in the red zone, but the Browns have to figure out how to use him. If he is unable to be an effective blocker, the defense knows the play is going to be a pass play when Moore’s on the field. If Moore can’t block effectively, the Browns could make Moore a full-time wide receiver similar to Dave Logan of the ‘Kardiac Kid’ era.

Smith is a free agent and the Browns definitely need a blocking tight end as Watson and Gronkowski are the only others on the roster that fit the bill. With Watson’s injury history, the Browns have to decide if they are going to re-sign Smith or address the position in free agency.” [Greetham/The Orange and Brown Report]

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Yep. It was that kind of game- “Fear The Sword’s Player Of The Game: Me. You could give it to Kyrie or Tristan, but honestly I don’t think anyone deserves it. Therefore, for the second game this season, I will be awarding the player of the game honors to myself. I managed to watch this entire game without breaking anything or collapsing into tears. I believe that deserves some props.” [Kaczmarek/Fear the Sword]

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Casspi isn’t lighting the hoop on fire, but then again… “J.J. Hickson, PF, Sacramento Kings. It’s hard to single out one Kings player, with no fewer than eight members of the regular rotation shooting 41 percent or worse. And it almost feels unfair to pick on Hickson, who tries hard, looks lost less often on defense and depends on Sacramento’s bevy of score-first, pass-later ball-handlers to deliver the rock.

Still, Hickson is 23, in his third season of receiving major minutes, and it’s fair to ask when we will see major progress from a guy for whom the Kings gave up Omri Casspi and a protected first-round pick. Hickson’s game on offense is the same as it ever was — explosive, but without polish. He can score on put-backs and cuts, but he doesn’t give you much from the post, the mid-range (with that unreliable jumper he loves to take) or the pick-and-roll. Hickson has attempted just 12 shots out of pick-and-rolls, per Synergy Sports. While some of that falls on the aforementioned guards, it’s also on Hickson, who loves to slip screens but hasn’t figured out another way to make himself available for passes. Speaking of passing, Hickson still doesn’t make many productive ones, as he’s averaging fewer than a dime per game.” [Lowe/Point Forward]

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I don’t really know who most of these kids are, but Urban Meyer and his staff seem to be doing just fine- “The 6-2/200 linebacker from Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury, Massachusetts took an official visit back in December to Ohio State and loved what he saw. There was a feeling then that the Buckeyes could really make a play for the 4-star prospect, especially with Penn State, the school he was committed to, without a head coach until over a week into January. Williams wanted to make the return trip with his mom to Columbus, doing so this weekend, obviously a visit that validated what he felt after his first experience in Columbus.

Williams becomes the 23rd member of this class and the 4th linebacker, joining Josh Perry, Luke Roberts, and David Perkins. There is a chance of a fifth linebacker joining the mix, as Durham (NC) Hillside’s Jamal Marcus is visiting Columbus this weekend.” [Alex/Eleven Warriors]